Tennis began in the 19 century and was primarily played by royalty and members of the upper class. Throughout time though, it has spread throughout most of the world, to all economic groups and all walks of life. It has become so popular, that it is now included in the Olympics as well as having its own special tournaments such as the U.S. Open, the French Open, the Australian Open, Wimbledon, etc.
Tennis courts are 78 feet long by 27 feet wide for singles. For doubles (two players on each team) the width of the court extends to 36 feet. These courts can be made of a variety of substances including grass (this is used at Wimbledon), clay or concrete (Plexicusion).
Grass courts are very expensive to maintain, so most courts are made from clay or concrete. When playing on a clay court, there is more friction when the ball hits the ground. This means that play will be slower and the players may have a more difficult time with volleys. Concrete courts can be designed as low bounces, hard hitting and fast serving courts.
The net on a tennis court is 3 feet high and is place directly in the center of the baseline, dividing the court into 2 equal halves. The players stand on opposite sides and with each turn, one acts as the server and one as the receiver. One point is earned each time a player sends the ball over the net, and the other player does not return the ball and thus allows it to hit the floor. The game is based on point system that decides a set. In each game the first three points are described as love. The points thereafter are known as 15, 30 and 40. Any time both the players gain three points, the score card is deuce. When this happens, any player who makes a winning shot has an advantage over his/her opponent.
If you are interested in learning to play, keep in mind that while tennis is a physically challenging game, it also requires a great deal of mental skill. Go ahead, give it a try, you will love it!
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